Door check and closer



Feb. 1, 1949. STRONACH 2,460,369

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed April 18, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Feb. 1, 1949. R. G. STRONACH 2,460,369

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed April 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Rupert G. Stronach, Hamden, Conn., assignor to Sargent & Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 18, 1945, Serial No. 589,016

9 Claims.

This invention relates and more particularly to a device adapted to be applied to a door and so arranged that it will effect a positive closing movement of the door,

while, at the same time, checking this movement so that the door will benot slammed but will be closed softly or gently.

Most devices which are now on the market to perform a similar result to that performed by that of the device of the present application consist of relatively complicated mechanisms housed in a cylindrical case of considerable size, which case is usually mounted on the door or door frame and, in some instances, the case-has been concealed within the door frame above the door. When the case is mounted upon the outside of the door, it is unsightly in appearance, and its size is such to door check and closers,

that it cannot be placed within the dooritself 7 and can only beconc-ealed within the door frame above the door with considerable inconvenience and usually not without a rearrangement of the mechanism. v

I contemplate by the present invention the provision of a door check which may be mounted in a narrow elongated case which may be installed in the upper portion of the door so as to be practically concealed from view. As the case of the mechanism must be of less thickness than that of the door, it will be apparent thatif a plungerand-cylinder type mechanism is employed, the diameter of the cylinder must be relatively small. The size of the cylinder is related to the checking efiort which may be obtained, and this has been considered a serious drawback to the construction of a suitable door check which may be concealed within the door itself.

In the present invention I overcome the difliculties mentioned above by constructing a relatively deep case for the device and providingrin the case a plurality of cylinders, one below the other, so as to secure a suitable plunger or piston area to provide the necessary checking power. A piston or plunger is arranged in each of the cylinders, which plungers are interconnected and connected with the controlling arm, so that they will be moved when the door is opened and act in a manner similar to one plunger or piston having the combined area of the two which are provided.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved door check, the mechanism of which may be housed in a relatively narrow casing so that the latter may be mounted within the door adjacent the upper edge thereof.

- ;A, still further object of the invention is to provide a door check and closer having a relatively deep and narrow case, which case shall be provided with a plurality of cylinders one below the other and a plunger in each cylinder connected with the operating armso that both plungers will act together in bringing about the checking and closing operations.

. A'still further .object of the invention is to provide a door check of the character described in which the cylinders will communicate with each other on both sides of the plungers or pistons, so that one set of controlling valves may .be employed for both cylinders. l V

A still further object of the invention is to provide. a doorcheck of the character described so arranged that adjustment of the tension of the closing springs may be readily changed from the rear edge of the door without the necessityof removal of any of theparts of thecas'ing To'these and other ends the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a door having my. improved door check and closer installed therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the case of the door check and closer on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of thedevice, showing the controlling valves and the position of one of the plungers-when the door is in open position I Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing'the plunger in the position which it occupies when the door is'approaching its closed position;

Fig. 6' is an end elevational view of the casing of the device; r

Fig. l is a sectional View on line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is. a sectional view of the mechanism for holding the door in open position taken on line' a a of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing theparts in another position; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line lit-Ill of Fig. 4.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown a portion of a-door l0 hinged atllto-the frame l2, the door havin mortised in the upper edge thereof, and adjacent its hinged edge, the casing l3 of the device. This casing includes a body portion l4 having lugs l5 and I6 projecting therefrom at opposite corners so that it may be secured to the door by suitable fastening screws I! and I8.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, this casing is relatively deep and narrow so that it may be mounted within th door between the two faces thereof in a concealed position, and, provided within this; casingf,'a1 '.e apair ofiparall'eil cylinders. l9 and 20;- one above the other,*the-two being separated by the partition 21. It will be noted, however, that this partition is provided with anopening 22 adjacent the forward. endiofithe case,- through which the cylinders I9 and 20 may communicate, and is also providedwith 'an:opening 23 which also provides communication between the cylinders. Above the upper cylinder 20 is a fluid reservoir 24 provided withra-afiilinggopening; 25 which may be ordinarily closed by a screw cap 26 so that, the closer being of the fluid type, the cylinders l9 and 20 maybe kept full of a suitable fluidi such as.;oii;' for examples The reservoir 24 provides for: 1 a complete-filling of the interior; of I the casing and; being. ,aboverth'e: upper cylinder; will house 'or contalnan excess offluid whichwi-ll' fitiWsiHbO. the: cylinders. as needediandr maintain them full at Lalltimest-v "It:will;of:"course; b'e um derstood that the fluid may flriw fromthe upper cylinder :with which :the reservoir:communicates tOLth'GulQWEI cylinden; through theiopenings 22: ands-23i- Within each; cylinder iis-niounted .ar plunger of identical formseachzofithese plungers comprising a body portion 28 having-:aehead- 292 atfoneaend. andza cylinrl-rica1. spring abutmentia (If atjthe other enditheibody portioni 8 of' tlie plungerzbeing proe videdewithlzracksteeth 3l12onz-its; forwardifaee on the 3f ace awayf rom th'eradjacent -wall 'oi the icylin, derri. Annpening -3 z'isprovidedthrougl'rtheplunge. er head; 2,9;5.this;openingcgbeingacontrolledr-bya.

baill-ieheckevalve533:.so :as, :torpermit-itheefluid 5.130 40' flow; throughethei :headr; iIlLOllB 't directiorr. but. :to; check such flowi theefluidiexerts. pressure on the ball in the-opposite direction; This; as will be: obvious to;those skilled:imthe art; permits the fluid"; to: flow: freely; through; the" plunger head;

from one side to the other thereof :whenthedoor isfiopenedand theplungenis moved-from the position shown in! Fig; 3ito that;shown in Fig. 4,:

An opening 34 is provided through the cylin'a dricalcabutment 3fl so, that the oil-.or other. fluid within the cylinder may flow freely from the-rear. tocther-fonward: part of -th -cylinden and against this tabutm ent one end of;the' closinggspring e5 is, adapte tocbeari thee-other: n off sprin bearing against a. collar 36 threadedupon an .adjustinggscrew r31; the-.endfofwvhichc prQjCts :;out-

wardly through: the: end mall; 38 0f" the casing;

where it, is..sp 0videdewith-. a; slot 39 -.-to receive- {as 13 m -r m; toot-by whichsits may-x 'be rotated. Rotation of the screw 31, as-iwillbe obr ViOlJlS,' Wi'1.1='effi8Gt:EidjiEtIIlQIlUOfi the collar-36 longitudinallyiotthe cylinder .andthereby effect adjgstmentiog th ecompre sion-.springs35 so. thatit will exert more or less pressure upon-the plung ere It, wi1l;be..apparen t "that .,the. ..-screws 31 will, as shown in Figs. 2 and I6;heraccessiblelfrom.the exterior of the casingatthe,rearedge of the door when the latter is opened, so that they may be easily adjusted withoutthe removal. of any por-' tionofjlthe case.

Rotatablymounted-in'the casing and extending ironidzop to -bottom-thereof is -a-=sha-ft lflfcarrying thereoma' relatively wide pinion-'41 which 1 extendsthroughPthe Opening-fl in; thepartition ;2 I cr'th'ecase;- so that *the =teeth' of this-pinion=are-inen- 4 gagement with the rack teeth 3| on both of the plungers. While the opening 23 is only slightly larger than the outside size of this pinion,'the fluid communication between the cylinders will, of course, be provided by the space between the teeth as Well as by the space at the edges of the teeth. The shaft 40 is extended through an openiIi'giAEat theupper sidi'oiiithecase-:where it is surrounded by suitable packing 6'3 to==prevent leakage, and on the extended end of the shaft is rigidly secured the usual operating arm 44, this arm beingpivoted; at 45 to one end of a link 45, the other end of which is pivoted o1 rotatably connected' to:lthe dooriframe as will be hereinafter described; It may-here be noted that, as shown in-"Fig.- 3, thew-idth of the body portion 28 of the :piungeriandsthe,pinion 4| is slightly greater thanthe width of the casing l3, so that the latter is-provided with a slightly bulged portion 41 (Fig. 3) to accommodate these'parts. If at this point the-casing. is too: wide to; be housed: :completely 7 within the door-,mitfmay proiectit-hrouglr amma-lli opening zati-ioneasideof the'door asshownzin .Fi'g:v 1'; which openingnnaye be.:.-cover.ed: by theplate; 49;

This ate may; however, beirelatively narrow so: thatsit" will not :detIaritriromthe; appearance of:

the installation.

As;shown::in;Figs. 2, 4 .gandafii avby-pass passage 5li'iis. provided;- at.- thie.:.upper :porti'onpof the a casing adapted'to permit :fluid :to rflow fromone: side-of 2 the =plungenhead-29 ;to1the th.er whemthe plunger is moving. f (inwardly: or: toe the; right as shown imthes-e figures: Thisgpassage filii-isiin commue nicatiomwith; theaacylimier :204- throuahzthe recess 5i iat:its;reansendeandithrough..1portsa52Land 53; adjacent its fo wardrend; Thegveiiective.area-1drthe :.port 53.;may be.,-.controlledu y aivalveaiiros tatably; mounted irrgtheceasing: and... provided in ibSlOWfllZ-(fflQQWlbh atranSverse-slot 55*;WhiCh C0Ill1 municates: both withzthe passagerfifleandi-with the port 53.. lt willibe apparent. from-mg,- 10 that this recess or slot communicates with theport 53-in any .-r0tati-ve' position of-the-.valve-.- However; the

v effective-area iof .the communicationbetweeirthis slot tandsthe passage Frfi-IfldfibfleVfiIiGd-DY rotation. of the valve54 -so that the-efiective-areae-.of the v port .53 may be variedas desired"... The valve 54 extends upwardly; through: theecasing at the-top of-the door and is 'providedmith arslot Miler-the insertion-of artool by which it may;,-be-.rotated'..

The, byapas-s-passage' 5.0 imayibe controlledriby a. valve flit-similar to the valyeiifiwanda is likewise" provided with a transilerseaslotion op in 59,- so that-by rotation ioiethisevalve. the efiectiyearea of V the passa e 50. .maytbe regulated While the operationeoigmydevioe willing-clear.

to thos e skilled in the; art .from .thelabove description,,.it ispreierame ,to brieflyidescribe. it .as

follows; as shown in Figs.;.1 to.v the, parts. are in kth'eposition 09C1 1? ,whTen,the door'is; clo Upon the opening oithe door, the arms 46 and 46 will be separated-toincrease-the angle therebetween about the pivot pin-45\and as 'the'arm. Mis, secured (to the upper end? of the ,2 shaft 40; this shaft wil'l'be rotated, causing'thezpinion 41- theremovement will take place-against the action of-- the springsy35 which -willibe compressedby' the rearward'movement ofthe plungers;'each spring-- acting;individuallympon thepl-ungergwith" which" it-is associated: During this=opening --movemen-t;

the fluid ,in-the cylinders-will:flow freelyf past the When the door is released after being opened,

the springs 35 will act against the abutments 30 on the plungers to efiect the return of the plungers to the right or forward ends of the cylinders, and thereby through the racks 3| and pinion 4! effect rotation of the arm 44 which will close the door in a well-known manner. When the door is open, the plungers may be assumed to be substantially in'th'e position occupied by the upper plunger as shown in Fig. 4, the lower plunger standing in the same position relatively to the lower cylinder. During the return of-the plungers to the right, the fluid will be forced from the upper cylinder through the ports 52 and 53 and the by-pass passage 50 into this cylinder at the rear of the plunger'head 29, thus allowing the plunger to move to the right under control of the adjustment of the valve 58, the fluid being bypassed from one side of the plunger to the other during this movement. Likewise the fluid in the lower cylinder Will pass to the upper cylinder through the opening 22 and then be bY-passed around the plungers by flowing through the opening 23 after passing through the passage 50.

When the plunger head 29 reaches a position in .which it covers and therefore closes the port 52 (a position between that shown in Figs. 4 and the by-passing of the fluid around the plungers may only take place through the port 53 and will, therefore, be under control of both valves 54 and 58, thus providing a slow movement of the door at this point..

When the door has moved to a further position in which it is almost closed and the latch bolt is about to strike the strike plate with which it cooperates. it is desired to efiect the remainder of the closing with a snap action. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5, the arrangement is such that any further movement of the plunger will uncover the port 52 and permit the fluid in the upper cylinder to be by-pass'ed about the plunger through the port 53 and the uncontrolled port 52 without the fluid having to pass by the valve 58, thus at this time a quick closing or snap action is imparted to the door to insure the proper retraction and later engagement of the latch bolt.

If this snap action is not desired, the valve 54 may be adjusted to restrict the eifective size of the opening 53, and the result will be a quiet or gentle closing of the door at the end of the c1osing movement. i

It is also desirable to provide for the holding of the door in open position when de'sired,'and provision is made to effect this result by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9. As shown in Fig. 1, the link or arm 46 is pivoted to a member Bl having a disk-like portion 62 provided with an opening 63 in which is mounted for slidable movement vertically the square portion 54 of a stud 65. A nut 66 is provided upon one end of the stud by which thelatter may be adjusted vertically with respect to the disk 62.

The upper end of the stud 55 is threadingly connected to a nut 61 secured to a plate 68 mounted on the scflit 69 of the door frame.

As will be apparent, the stud E5 is non-rotatably secured to the member 62, although it may be adjusted vertically relatively to this member by the nut 65 so that, when the member 62 is rotated by an opening movement of the door and the swinging of the arm 46, the stud 65 will be rotated relatively to the nut 61, The threaded connection of the stud 65 with the nut 61 is so 6 arranged that, during an opening movement of the door, this stud will travel upwardly relatively to the nut and cause the part 52 to move upwardly from its position shown in Fig. 8 where it is spaced from the plate member 68 to the position shown in Fig. 9 where it frictionally engages this plate member and holds the door in open position against the efiort of the springs 35. Adjustment of the position of themember 62 on the stud by the nut 56 will, of course, determine the amount of swinging movement of the door necessary to effect the frictional engagement of the parts shown in Fig. 9, and thus determine the open position of the door.

It will be noted that, when the nut 66 has been set at the desired position, the stud 55 will be held against movement with respect to the member 52, in that the upper end of this stud is threadedly engaged With the nut 61, so that there can be no vertical movement of the stud except that which takes place due to this threaded connection and caused by the rotation of the member 62 upon movement of the door. The squared portion 64 of the stud holds it against rotational movement with respect to th member 62. Thus there will be no change in the relative position of the parts as long as no adjustment of the nut St is made, and the door will be held in open position at a predetermined point according to the setting of the nut '65, which point will not be altered due to continued use of the device. It will also be noted that this part of the device occupies a very small amount of space, particularly in a vertical direction, so that it lends itself to mounting in the door soflit, as shown. Y

' While I have shown and described a preferre embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

A door closer comprising an elongated casing having a pair of parallel cylinders therein, a plunger in each of said cylinders, a spring in each cylinder urging the associated plunger toward one end of the cylinder, an arm actuated by the door in its opening and. closing movements, means connecting said arm to said plungers to effect movement of both of the latter in the same direction to compress said springs when the arm is moved, said means comprising a shaft rotatably mounted in the casing to which the arm is secured, and means connecting said shaft to both of said plungers.

2. A door closer comprising an elongated casing having a pair of parallel cylindersthe'rein, a plunger in each of said cylinders, a spring in each cylinder urging the associated plunger toward one end of the cylinder, an arm actuated V by the door in its opening and closing movements, means connecting said arm to said plungers to effect movement of both of the latter in the same direction to compress said springs when the arm is moved, said means comprising a shaft rotatably mounted in the casing to which said arm is secured, rack teeth on each of said plungers, and pinion means on the shaft engaged with the rack teeth of both plungers.

3. A door closer comprising an elongated casing having a pair of parallel cylinders therein, means providing communication between said cylinders, a plunger in each of said cylinders, the wall of one cylinder being provided with a passage to permit the fluid in said cylinders to bye-pass taround both ofsaid, plunge-rs; an arm actuatedr bylzthec; door :in iits'opening:v and closing movementsszmeans" connecting said arm to-said plun ers to effect movementof the latter-when the: iswmovd,aspring. acting atone end on each .:of said plungers to urge 'theassociated plunger in oneizdirection, said springs extending lengthwise; of: :the:-:casing,- a coliar against which the other? end ofveaoh springreacts; andrmeans extending through'the end wallof the;ca'sing for aadjusting. said: collars: to adjust the: tension of said'"springs.

ip-A rdoor closer comprising 1 an elongated casing having a pair of parallelcylinders' therein, 'means z-providing communication between said cylinders, arplungertin each of said cylinders, theiwall of: one cylinder heing1proyided with a passage to permitrithe fluidin said cylinders to byepassluaroundkboth .cof' said plungers, an: arm

.actuat-edc-by thexdoori inits'iopening and closing movements; means connecting; said arm tov said plungers to; efiect'imovementof the latterwhen theaarm :-is;moved, a spring acting: at one end ontreachsot said: plungers" to "urge the associated plungeriin one :-.direction, said "springs extendingz-"lengthwise of the casing, a stop member against which. thez'o'ther-end oieach spring reacts,: aandan:adjusting imember connected to each; stop r member and extending through the end wall of the-casing tdbeaccessible from the exterior sof the casing.

"5.A :door :closer comprising an elongated casingzhaving' ratpairiof parallel cylinders therein, :rnieans "providing communication between said cylinders, a plunger each of said, cylinders,

the wall of .{01'18' cylinder-being providedew'ith a passage tozpermitzttherfluid insaid cylinders to ,by-pass' aroundboth of. said :plungers, an arm actuatedrby the'LdOOD-in its opening and "closing movements,-eachr plunger comprising a body -por-' tion having rack teeth thereon a-head at one end and a spring abutment at the other-end of saidwportion,"az-springein each cylinder acting against the 'abutmenttourge the associated plunger in one, dire'c'tion,-.and I a pinion engaged withthe rack :teeth and" actuated by said arm.

--6. A (1001' closer :cornprising an elongated casing having a pairof parallel cylinders therein;::a ..plungerin eachofsaid cylinders,'an-arm actuated bythe door in :its opening 1 and closing movements; means-ccnnecting-sai'd arm to said plungerszto *effect' movement of. the latter when the --arm 'lflS moved, said -means comprising a .shartrrotatably mounted in the casing to which the arm is secured,r-means' connecting said shaft toibotlr-of:saidrplungers, a partition between saidtcylinders-having an opening therein through which said: shait-r-extends;. and said opening promovements imeans-i; connectingisaid arm to said plungers to effect movement :of the latter when the arm is wmoved, :said -.means comprising a shaft rotatably, mounted; in: :the :casing to which the arm :is; secured; means connecting; said shaft to .,both-.ofsaid;.:plungers, --a;-par:tition between said cylinders havingran opening therein through whichsaid shaft-extends, said opening providing communication between said cylinders, said shaftzheingrdisposed atone side of the headof said -plungers,and :means providing communicationabetween saidcylindersat theother side of said plungertheads.

-8.'-A wdoor vcloser vcomprising an elongated casing havinga -pair of parallel cylinders therein, aplunger in-eachof said-"cylinders, an 1 arm actuated hy-the-dcor in its opening and closing movements,'rmeans w connecting said arm to said plungers to -efiectismovementof the latter when the arm -iszmoved; saidimeans comprising a shaft rotatably .mounteduincthecasing to which the arm. is: secured, means connecting said shaft to both/of said plungers, a, partition between said cylinders having :an -0peningtherein through which isaid shaft-.extends, saidopening .providing communication "between said cylinders, saidshaft being disposed-atone side'of the head of s'aid;1-p1ungers,=means providing. communication abetween saidrcylinderssat the other ,side of saidplungerzheads, andameansproviding a fluid byepass about-one of. saidplungers.

9.5 A door, closercomp'rising an elongated. casing haying --a ppairof q-parallelecylinders therein, a plunger in each of said. cylinders, -.a spring, in each cylinder urging the .lassociated plunger towardloneendzoflthe cylindenan' arm actuated by theldooriin itsopeningand closing movements,

means connecting said arm 1120 said plungers to efiectnmovement' of both of thelatter in the same ,-.direction-v-to. compress said springs when the arm sis moved,- said means comprising a shaft. l-rotatablyl--mounted in the casing to which the'arm is secured, means" connecting said shaft to bothcof' said...plungers,' thewall of one cylinder-:beingiprovided with: a passage to permit fiuiddn said.cylinders toby-pass around both of said plungers, and means providing. communication between said cylinders on both sides of the plungers.

RUPERT VG. STRONACH.

TREFERENGES CITED The following references are of 'record in the file: "o'fijthis patent:

- UNITED :STATES: *PA'IEN'I'S Number Name Date 1',O97,60 1 V'oight -May 19, 1914 1,147,909 Williams July 27, 1915 1,155,310 7 Henry -JSept. 28, 1915 1,585,247 Hu-rd May 18, 1926 1,763,324 *Potter June 10, 1930 

